When oft-injured NFL players struggle to stay on the field and the teams that employ them are unnecessarily secretive about the reasons they're out, it often leads to rampant speculation about the player's health.

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia said Monday that the extended absence of his own oft-injured defensive star, pass rusher Ziggy Ansah, has nothing to do with his contract or anything other than a shoulder injury he suffered in a Week 1 loss to the New York Jets.

"Don’t make it anything more than that," Patricia said. "That guy’s a competitive guy, he wants to play football. He’s trying to do the best he can to help this team. So he’s day by day, we’re taking it day by day. We’re trying to get him ready to go. As soon as he can go, he’ll help us."

Ansah has not seen the field since playing 19 first-half snaps against the Jets, though he has appeared close to returning on multiple occasions.

He practiced on a very limited basis in the week leading up to the Lions' Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and was listed as questionable on that week's injury report.

A Detroit Lions fan dressed like head coach Matt Patricia, with a pencil in his ear and a beard, cheers during a break in the action against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at Ford Field. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions' Kenny Golladay makes a catch that was called back by a penalty during the first half against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at Ford Field. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions' Jamal Agnew, right, downs a punt after it hit a Packer in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at Ford Field. The play was ruled a fumble and the Lions got the ball at the 1-yard line. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Lions running back LeGarrette Blount celebrates with teammate Marvin Jones after Blount's second touchdown against the Packers during the first half on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Ford Field. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Patricia said Okwara has been "working really hard to understand the system and the scheme, and he’s had an opportunity to play and has been productive for us."

"So we just keep building on that as we go through," Patricia said. "He’s doing a good job. He’s got a lot to learn though, he’s got a lot to improve on. He got here late, so there’s a lot of little detail stuff that we’re getting him caught up on which this will be a great week to do that."

As for Ansah, Patricia declined to go into specifics about the injury but insisted nothing nefarious is going on.

"We give out an injury report every single week," Patricia said. "The guy’s trying every single day to get back out there. That’s what it is."